India vs England 1st Test, Day 4: Five interesting highlights of the day’s play

A late fight back led by England players Joe Root and James Anderson continued on Day 4 of their First Test against India as well. After a quick-fire stand with Broad on day 3 evening, Root found an able partner in James Anderson as the two put on a record last wicket partnership in Tests to see England take a small but morale boosting lead of 39 runs. England were all out for 496 in their first innings and in response India at stumps are 167-3 in their 2nd Innings with an overall lead of 128 runs. In case you missed the action earlier here are five interesting highlights of the day’s play.

Joe Root and James Anderson create history

England were 298-9 and 159 runs behind India’s 1st innings total when James Anderson came out to bat with Joe Root at other end. At the end of day 3 the two remained unbeaten and added 54 runs. England were trailing by 105 runs when play resumed on day 4 morning and runs started coming quickly with both batsmen finding boundaries at regular intervals. Root smashed back to back boundaries to bring up his fourth test century and Anderson on the other end was approaching his half-century. As the duo brought their 100-run stand it was for the first time in Test history that both sides made a century stand for the 10th wicket in same test. Run flow did not stop for England as the two created a record 10th wicket partnership of 198 surpassing Phil Hughes and Ashton Agar feat of 163 at the same ground. Bhuvneshwar Kumar then broke the stand as he had Anderson caught in the slip for a well-made 81, while Root who played a defiant knock remained unbeaten on 154.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar takes five

Amidst the record breaking last-wicket partnership Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked his first five-wicket haul in test cricket. Bhuvi who on day 3 had snapped four wickets broke the mammoth stand between Root and Anderson to clinch his fifth wicket of innings. Incidentally, all the last five wickets of England innings to fell were victims of Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s bowling. He ended with figures of 5-82 in 30.5 overs.

Unused Stuart Binny

Stuart Binny is in the side as the fifth bowling option and it was evident when he came to bat at number eight position. But surprisingly Dhoni did not consider Binny as an option for the major part of day 4 and all he bowled was just four overs. England batted for 145 overs and Binny bowled just 10 overs in the first innings. Dhoni even introduced him after part-time spinner Murali Vijay rolled his arm.

Murali Vijay & Cheteshwar Pujara take control

Centurion in the 1st innings Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara once again joined hands to form a valuable 2nd wicket partnership after Shikhar Dhawan was out early. With pitch being flat these two had no difficulty in settling down and played with ease. Both batsmen completed their respective half-centuries before the two were sent back on consecutive deliveries late in the day.

Indian batsmen throw their wicket away

BothVijay and Pujara were going well but against the run of play threw their wicket away. Vijay came down charging against spinner Moeen Ali only to find an edge which went into the gloves of keeper Matt Prior. On next over’s first ball Pujara slashed hard outside off-stump straight to Ben Stokes at point who took a catch on his second attempt. 140-1 became 140-3 and England were back in the game. Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane then made sure no further damage is done and were watchful to see India through.